Résumé Writing

OVERVIEW

Whether you’re simply networking or actually applying for a job or internship, a polished résumé can distinguish you from other candidates. CareerLAB’s Peer Career Advisors can help you produce résumés that merit a second look and that land you an interview, the goal of all résumés. You can review student résumé samples on our resources page.

KEY POINTS

• Tailor your résumé to each position.• Employers are interested in your skills, regardless of how you utilized them. When writing bullet points,

strive to include details about challenges you addressed, actions you took, and results. Include numberswhenever possible. Some students use the APR structure (Action, Process, Results) to draft bullet points.

• You do not need to focus only on paid experiences. Unpaid internships, activities and volunteer positionscan often provide you the opportunity to highlight as much, or more, experience than paid work.

• Employers decide in 15-20 seconds, whether or not a résumé is of interest. Front-load your résumé, puttingyour most relevant experience in the top third of the page.

• Get feedback before sending out a résumé. Peer Career Advisors are available for a critique during walk-inhours. See our resources page.

SECTIONS OF A RESUME

• Contact section – name, address, phone, email and LinkedIn URL• Education – As an undergraduate or recent graduate, this is always your first section. Include Brown as well

as any other higher education experience (study abroad, significant study away in the U.S. experiences)• Experience sections – list/describe experiences most pertinent to the skills needed in a particular position• Additional skills/interests – include foreign languages, computer skills, fine/performing arts, etc.

What goes in the Experience Sections?

• Within each experience section, list the name of the organization, location (mainly city/state, but if outsidethe U.S., include the country), your title, and the dates (in months and years) that you performed the work.

• Use action verbs to describe your duties. Rather than saying “responsibilities included organizing” you’llwant to say “organized.” See the list of action verbs on the back of this sheet.

• Use present tense for ongoing activities, past tense for prior experiences.• Use paragraph format or bullet points to list information. Try both and see what works best for you.

FORMATTING

• Keep it to one page if you are an undergraduate or recent grad. Use white space to make the resume easyto read.

• Use a common font between 10-12 points in size (except for your name, which can be bigger). Times NewRoman, Garamond, Arial, and Verdana are all acceptable.

• Format consistently. If you list your title first in one entry in a section, do it the same way for the rest ofthe listings in that section. Use consistent format across sections to the extent that is practicable.

• Reverse chronology for items within each section, placing your most recent experience first.

Management

• Administered • Analyzed • Assigned • Attained • Chaired • Consolidated • Contracted • Coordinated • Delegated • Developed • Directed • Evaluated • Executed • Improved • Increased • Organized • Oversaw • Planned • Prioritized • Produced • Recommended • Reviewed • Scheduled • Strengthened • Supervised

Communication

• Addressed • Arbitrated • Arranged • Authored • Collaborated • Convinced • Corresponded • Developed • Directed • Drafted • Edited • Enlisted • Formulated • Influenced • Interpreted • Lectured • Mediated • Moderated • Negotiated • Persuaded • Promoted • Wrote • Publicized • Reconciled • Recruited • Translated

Creative

• Acted • Conceptualized • Created • Customized • Designed • Developed • Directed • Established • Founded • Illustrated • Initiated • Instituted • Integrated • Introduced • Invented • Originated • Performed • Planned • Revitalized • Shaped

Teaching

• Adapted • Advised • Clarified • Coached • Communicated • Coordinated • Guided • Demystified • Developed • Enabled • Encouraged • Evaluated • Explained • Facilitated • Informed • Instructed • Persuaded • Set goals • Stimulated • Trained

Clerical/Detail

• Approved • Arranged • Catalogued • Classified • Collected • Compiled • Dispatched • Executed • Generated • Implemented • Inspected • Monitored • Operated • Organized • Prepared • Processed • Purchased • Recorded • Retrieved • Screened • Specified • Systemized • Tabulated • Validated

Research

• Clarified • Collected • Critiqued • Diagnosed • Evaluated • Examined • Extracted • Identified • Inspected • Interpreted • Interviewed • Investigated • Organized • Reviewed • Summarized • Surveyed • Systematized • Trained

Technical

• Assembled • Built • Calculated • Computed • Designed • Devised • Engineered • Fabricated • Maintained • Operated • Overhauled • Programmed • Remodeled • Repaired • Solved • Upgraded

Financial

• Administered • Allocated • Analyzed • Appraised • Audited • Balanced • Budgeted • Calculated • Computed • Developed • Forecasted • Managed • Marketed • Planned • Projected • Researched

Helping

• Assessed • Assisted • Clarified • Coached • Counseled • Demonstrated • Diagnosed • Educated • Expedited • Facilitated • Familiarized • Guided • Motivated • Referred • Rehabilitated • Represented

ACTION VERBS – DESCRIBE YOUR SKILLS!

Start off each line of your résumé with an action verb. Actions verbs specify what you know and what you do. Select verbs that precisely identify the relevant skills or experiences you have that match a particular employer needs.

Consider These

Descriptive, Skills-Based Section Titles Several sections of your resume will describe your experience. The titles of those sections stand out to readers, so make

sure they describe what type of experience you’ve had, and are relevant to the position for which you are applying. Consider following each of these titles with the word ‘Experience’ (i.e. “Peer Advising Experience

STEMandHealth

Project/Program/Product

EducationChild Care Communications

Arts

Fashion

CommunicationsAdministrative Advertising and Promotion Campaign

Debate/Deliberation

Organizational

Project/Program/Product

Political/legalAdministrative Campaign

Organizational

CommunityInvolvement

Advocacy

Business/financeAdministrative Analytical

Project/Program/Product

Strategy